Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Laura Hardy made her way to the kitchen. There was sadness in the way she held herself. Her youngest son had been missing for almost twenty-four hours, kidnapped by a madman bent on revenge. An innocent young girl had gotten caught in their trouble. Laura hadn’t met Rayne but she could see how much of an impression the young girl made in Joe’s life. He had been so sad when Vanessa left. Normally a happy, outgoing person, Joe had withdrawn into himself. In the last few days, Laura had noticed a change: Joe seemed like his old self again.

As Laura filled the coffee pot with water, her thoughts turned to her sister-in-law. She wished that Gertrude hadn’t left to visit her friend in Arizona. If Gertrude were here, she would at least keep her company. Laura smiled as she thought about Fenton’s older sister. Yes, Gertrude could be cantankerous – overly opinionated – bossy, and never failed to speak her mind, but Laura knew that was just the older woman’s way. It had taken the boys a few years to realize that their aunt’s complaining was just her way of showing them that she cared. If Gertrude were here right now, Laura knew that she would be trying to keep her from worrying about Joe. She had helped Laura throughout the years when Fenton, Frank or Joe had been hurt. Chuckling softly to herself, Laura recalled some of the outrageous things that Gertrude would say to her – sometimes causing a long, heated discussion. One day she realized that Gertrude did it on purpose – trying to keep her from thinking of a “worst-case scenario”.

“Laura, honey, is the coffee ready?”

Quickly smoothing her hair and fixing a smile on her face, Laura turned just as Fenton entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, dear! Would you like some breakfast?”

As Fenton gazed at his wife, he could see the tell-tale signs of worry – the fake happy smile on her face. How he wished Gertrude was here! With her inane opinions on politics to keep Laura’s mind from thinking the worst. Walking over to Laura, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“We’ll find him – I promise you I will find Joe!”

Laying her head against his chest, she held him tightly. She believed him – he would find Joe – he promised, and Fenton never broke a promise.

Frank quietly backed out of the doorway, giving his parents some time alone. Leaning against the wall, he made a silent promise to his mother – he would find Joe, and soon.

*****

Chief Collig rubbed his face; grimacing as he felt the morning stubble. He glanced down at his watch and sighed, ‘Well, at least I got a few hours of sleep.’ He looked up when he heard a knock at his door.

“Morning Chief – thought you could use this.”

Con Riley placed a large Styrofoam cup of coffee on his desk.

Taking a huge sip, Chief Collig let out a contented sigh. “At least one of us got some sleep,” he commented.

“This wide-eyed busy-tailed look is due to three of these things!” replied Con as he held up his own large cup. “I think I got about an hour and a half of shut-eye.”

“I believe I got a half hour more than you,” grunted Collig.

As Con started to sit down, the intercom buzzed. “Chief Collig, you’ve got a call on line 2 from a Ranger Wilcox.”

“Thanks Gladys – Hello, Chief Collig speaking.”

“Chief Collig, I’m Ryan Wilcox. I patrol out at the Emerson National Park. This morning we got a report on two missing teens, a boy and a girl. Seems they went hiking in the woods. Now at first I thought they just might have gotten lost but…well, sir, one of my men found the body of the boy….I haven’t gotten a report back from the M.E. but it looked like he might have been sexually molested and that made me think about that escapee…”

“You think Daniel Reese might be in that area?!”

“It’s just a hunch, Chief Collig...like I said, I haven’t heard from the M.E. but I have read up on this Reese fellow’s file.”

“I’ll send some men down there – can you spare some of your men to help as guides?”

“Yes, sir! I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Ranger Wilcox!”

Con was leaning forward, anxiously waiting to hear some good news. Hanging up the phone, Chief Collig got out of his chair and grabbed his coat.

“Let’s go – we have to get to the Hardys’.”

“What was the phone call about?”

“I’ll tell you on the way!”

*****

Emma Preston sat in her daughter’s room staring at the framed picture in her hand. She wiped away a tear as she gazed at Rayne’s baby picture. Her hand trembled slightly as she wondered if she would ever see her daughter again.

Michael stood quietly at the doorway; he watched his wife for a moment and then entered the room. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Come on, we’re going to see the Hardys.”

“What – why?”

“I don’t know – just a feeling I have.” Michael gave his wife a small smile.

Emma smiled back at him. “Rayne’s gift must be rubbing off on you.”

The Prestons hugged each other, and Michael helped his wife up. As they drove to the Hardy home.

*****

Joe had had a sleepless night; his body ached from the assault he’d endured from Daniel. The thoughts that kept running through his head didn’t help either. Joe heard the front door open. He knew Daniel had been out all night. Squinting his eyes shut as the morning sun shone brightly, Joe lay still and pretended to be asleep.

Daniel was in a good mood; having those two lost teens stumbling in was the best fun he had. He glanced over at Joe’s sleeping form and then over to the bedroom. His stomach rumbled, Daniel decided to have some breakfast first. Fun time would come soon enough.

Joe let out a sigh of relief when Daniel left. He and Rayne were safe…for now.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.